Reminders of death and life

Macro photo of a snowflake

Adapted from Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com

After a day of cold rain last week, amidst the season’s deepening darkness, the sun came out to remind us that in a couple of weeks the days will start getting longer again. Meanwhile some seed catalogs are in the mail.

But snowflakes must fall – trillions of them, and to think that each looks different up close!  (I see snowfall as a reminder of the shroud of death on a cloudy day and as a celebration of light and therefore of life on a sunny one.)

The coming of winter-storm season reminds me of the irritating demand that people show up to work at the newspapers where I labored regardless of the weather. In my case most memorable was trudging and climbing home from The Providence Journal in the Blizzard of ’78 and walking home as branches were still falling during the tail end of Hurricane Bob in 1991.

But as the great English playwright, songwriter and director Noel Coward asked:  “Why Must the Show Go On?’’ Here’s the song.

xxx

I have fond memories from childhood of visiting what’s now called the Edaville Historic Train & Festival of {holiday} Lights, whose  origins go back to 1947.   It’s magical place (at least for children) in South Carver, Mass. in the heart of Cranberry Country.  Check it out.

At this time of year, any place with bright lights, colored or just white, is much appreciated.